Dan Rice's Menagerie

Our citizens - to whom the name of Coloiiel Dan Rice bas long been familiar as thu very prince of showmeu- will bo rejoiced to learii tbat this indefatigaWa manager will soon arrivo in this city with his mainmoth manegerie. Aiuong the wonderful features of this exhibí tiou is that of the " sacred cattle," whicl alone inrests it with the grentest iutere.--t. - ïhe novelty of this featura demands moro thaa a passing notice, and we acuordingly give a short One of these rumarkablo animáis We ure roliably informed that they were Bever on exhibition in Europe or this country aud this being their first season, they will 110 doubt créate a furore, particularly among the raligiuus portion of the different oommunitiea where they may be oxhibited. ïhe followii g brief sketches may not prove uniotereatii.g. His,t-)iy shows the 'Saored buil identiiled wilh such m raculous things, that we sometiines doubt the existence of such an animal. It is rolated that he vwia with the aucient Ejjyptians (as uiay be seen by the figure of th'eil God Apis) "au idol of wor.ship, as he is at present with the Hindoes. It is said by Maj. Denhnra. and olher authorities, ihat the Sacred Buil is used sometimes on great occasions to enhauce the iuterest and give additional importance to dittinsuished persons. For instance, the daughter oí' a Shiek or Sultan, about to be aiar'ied, on her way to the place appointed for thesolemu riles tobe performid, she. inouuted on a Sacred Buil, extravagantly adorned with amber, silver rings, coráis and all sorts of finery, her hair streaming with fat. a black riui of kohol, at least an iuch wide, round each of har eyes, aud arrayed for this important occasion, she sits astride, and, with considerable grace, guides her animal by tho uose, through the carlilage of which is a leather thoug which serves as a bridle. ïhe Sacred Cattle bear a charmed life ainong the weak andsuperstitiousHindoos, who venérate them and hold their s'aughter au unpardouable 8.11' The Saored Buil is particularly sauctified. He leada an easy life wandering about the villages, and even the cities, as they list, and takiug their pleasure and their food where they like, if not prevented by the coutributions of the devout. They may be seen every day wandering at large in the streets of Calcutta, eating rice, grain and flour iu the bazaar, and the utmost a ualive does, when he sees them honoring fris goods too mueh, is to urge their., by the geutlest hints, to taste some of the good things on his ueighbor's stall. Bayard Taylor tells us that " the narrow streets of Beuares are obstructed in the vicinity of the temple by these sacred bulls. The place suarms with them, aud they are a great nuisauce. They are knowing bulls, perfectly conscious of their aacred character, and presume upon itto comrnit all sorts of depredations. They are the terror of th dealers infiuits and vegetables, for although uot always exempted from blows, no oue can stand befoie their. horns, aud these they do not scru)le to use.if uecessary to secure their end. Sometimes, on their foraging expsditions, they boldly enter the houses, marcli upktairsand take a stroll on the flat roofs, where they may be seen looking down with great interest on the passing crowd below. Froin these eminences they take a Tiew of the surrounding country, calcúlate its resources, and having selected ooe of the richest spots within their circle of visión, descend slraightway, and set off in a bee line for the place, which they never fail to ünd. Wheu the flelds look promisiug on the other side of the Ganges, they march down te the river banks and prevent any passengers from going on board the ferry boats, until they are pennitted to enter. - They cro;s and remain there until the supplies are exhausted, when they forcé a passage back in the ame marmer. The gardens of the English residents frequently sufler from their depredations, and the only eüectual way of guarding against them, is to yoke them at once, and keep them at hard labor a day or two, which so utterly disgusts them with the place, that they never return to it. It is also affirmed, that they carefully avoid the neighborhood of thuae butchers who supply the tablet of the English, having observed that eome of their brethren disappeared in a miraculous mamier, after frequenting such localitie." This Sacred Buil is the property of Colonei Dan Rice, purchased by him from toa estáte of the Hon. Mr. Hocufnagle, deceased. The Buil is nine years oíd. his color is dark brown and gray, height seventeen hands, with fine symetrical proportious, aud t'ie most beuigo countenance man evr looked upon, or rathsr an exprefsion which man naver could have hoped to behold iu any of Ood's creatures - lts hump is elevated to a remarkable degree, and retains au upright position. Instances are spoken of whare it has attained the enormous weight of flfty pounds. Ho is ia size a moniter.